Chapter 10- End of the Book
Days became weeks since our fight with Lord Harkon and three things were on my mind. Sofia proving Ollie’s point of too much power right, My fondness for Serana, and the thought that with Lydia being a former version of herself, perhaps it was time to move on... “Wait so let me get this straight, you were married to Lydia, your housecarl and did the dirty in the upstairs, and then she ended up dying and was saved by a vampire, as in “their whole presence is meant to seduce people and get them to agree with you and do what you want them to” and you think that Serana is now your true love? “I know what it sounds like Sofia, but you have to remember I was a vampire even before i met Serana, and there has always been something about her... she’s smart, she’s witty, she’s gentle-” “She’s pale, many centuries year old, she sucks the blood out of her victims, has a dysfunctional family I mean I’d love to see you try and talk to her mom about that ‘ Oh Hi Mrs. Serana, it’s me again, the half-breed vampire, who killed your husband, made a mess of your home, put your daughter in danger and oh, did I mention i’m in love wit her and want to marry her?” “Say what you will Sofia, but the heart wants what the heart wants. Elsa, wishing to feel involved in the conversation also chimed in “I think it’s sweet, I mean have you seen the way those two look at each other? Do you still have an amulet of Mara?” Sofia however was having none of this “Okay, well answer me this,, can vampire’s even get married? I mean you belong to a Daedric God, are you sure you want just instantly combust in accepting it’s blessing? Also, how do you even know she wants to go through with it, and won’t the priest know you were already married before hand? Sofia rose several good points but I already made the nesecary arrangements prior to this conversation. i explained to the priest at Riften of the situation with Lydia and he told me there was a way to enact a divorce given the circumstances, he told me however i would need to dispose of the rings to which I did by disenchanting them in one of the many Arcane Enchanters. “Relax, i already got things taken care of Sofia. Didn’t know you were so upholding of Skyrim’s marriage laws”. I chuckled at her as she rolled her eyes. “And what about you Lydia what do you think?”
Lydia had been lost in thought in this conversation. I mean,how does one process that they were married and in love with someone in a previous life yet not feel that same connection their supposed partner describes now? “ Honestly, I don’t know what to think. I know you said that her and I were a thing, but I just don’t feel that way, and honestly i can’t be too sure if I did...” Suddenly, Lydia caught notice of how she phrased her words. “Wait! I didn’t mean-“ I tried to calm her nerves, “Relax, I know what you’re trying to say” however that said, the priest did ask that you and Ollie attend or sign some piece of scroll acknowledging that nothing was a sham and that this current union is fair. In fact there’s Ollie right now. I motioned over to him, he looked a bit surprised not recognizing me without my Miku helmet, and my Majora’s mask. Honestly, it was nice to have both of those articles removed as the power of both acted very similarly to the weight of an angel and devil on my shoulder with each trying to do an act towards its favour be it good or bad. i explained to Ollie the entirety of my travels to this point. “Well, I’m glad to see that you got some good friends that kept you level headed throughout all of this nd you yourself certainly look a lot better skinned than the last I saw you” Sofia butted in “Vamprie Seduction powers i’m telling ya”. Ollie laughed. “The bad news however though is that i can’t attend your wedding or even your next travels for awhile as I’m sorta needed here in Whiterun. We’ve been getting a variety of Redguards and Dragons coming into the area and They need a decent bowman to help keep things normal. That and I’ve been getting both factions of the imperials AND the storm cloaks coming in with their propaganda. I mean I like what the Stormcloaks stand for but hate Ulfric, and the imperials are equally as self serving to their upper classes, but they seem to want to do some good... I chime in to relive him of his burden, “No Ollie, it’s okay i understand, and I’m glad we could reconcile since our last meeting” He smiles “yeah, well I’ve always been a fan of a pretty broad and the fact that you have 3 more of them with you was some good bargaining power on your behalf.
We eventually left to Serana’s Castle and found that reconstruction hasn’t progressed as far as we hoped “Well after Harkon is gone we still had a lot of the Dawnguard to deal with thinking that we’re still gonna use the bow” Serana was explaining to me “But i took the bow and brought it back to Breezhome” “yeah, but you know the Dawnguard, for 100s of years its always been about how bad vampires can be and how were the root of all evils, and so on and such. I didn’t wanna say it then but my goodness how Serana had changed. she shredded herself of her old vampire royal armour and into something a lot more...sensual. Even her hair became a lot more radiant and helped give almost a glow to her face and reveal a much curvier body than I anticipated. “Hey, have you seen your mom yet in the Soul Cairn?” Serana went into a gasp, “Actually no I haven’t yet, please come with me so we can get her out. We did so, journeying back into the dark purpled land. Surprisingly we did not get attacked as severely as much as our first journey here. Valeria was busy at her alchemy lab when Serana approached her “Mother, the castle is safe! We unfortunately had to kill father to do so but no war has broken out with the others. “I see..” she responded almost skeptical of the matter. I approached Valeria in private “Can I have a word with you?” I asked nervous for the response. “Certainly what’s on your mind, I have to thank you for looking after my daughter after awakening from her crypt I was worried at who would eventually stumble upon her but I couldn’t feel more pleased with someone such as yourself“. “Actually, about that that, it’s about your daughter... I was hoping to receive your blessing to marry her” I awaited the scolding of a centuries old witch. “Hah, a vampire bless marriage? I’m an alchemist and even that involves dabbling in dark arts“. “Does that mean no?” I asked still uncertain of the consequence. “It means do as you please. Though I warn you Serana has never been one or temple. That said if you-” She whispers a series of phrases and words that were somewhat intangible to me about how to get her to overlook her fears.
Shortly after we leave i ask the question to Serana “Serana, I... would you marry me? after all the time we spent together i believe we have a connection and I was hoping that we could live the rest of our lives together”. Serana frowned... “I’m not really into temples and I don’t think I could go into a marriage right now, i care for you honestly but...I don’t think this is right for me....“. I was heartbroken “but you mother said if I-” I spoke the same gibberish that she told me and something odd happened. She began to move in a form of dance that I have never seen and upon finishing it was as she forgot the very question I asked. “I am sorry, what were we talking about?” she asked confused and dazed. i half heartily told her expecting her to say no again “I asked if you wished to marry me...” Her eyes suddenly now burst into excitement “YES! I’d love to marry you! I was hoping you’d ask that the moment I saw you wearing an amulet of Mara!” Miku be damned, i don’t know what Valeria said* but clearly it worked. Eventually we set up the wedding and all my companions were there, the strange fox person and even one of Serana’s vampire associates. Serana was awfully nervous and she pulled me in whispering into my ear “I’m still a bit uncomfortable in temples like these, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be yours.” I removed my helmet and set aside my Mask, “Here, I want you to see the real me and let it be a memento that from this day on we will be soulmates, for long as you can remember me.” Serana laughed “you know as a vampire, your face will never change right?” I laughed softly in return “and I’m sure you know that when they ask if you’re ready to be my partner forever, we really will be together forever correct?“. Serana brushed aside a loose hair from her face ; her eyes beaming with joy, “ That’s what I’m counting on.
*You could never marry Serana in the game regularly and only through mod. So while the story took a weird turn thematically there, it was the only done to indicate that a mod was used to get the result as she turns you down otherwise.
Captain America’s throwable shield